# Seagull IM vs Magpie IM

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Magpie IM at none against Seagull IM's 10. Magpie IM also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Seagull IM sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Magpie IM asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Seagull IM | Magpie IM |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.6 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seagull-im/id1584062834/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **47** | — |
| Positive reviews | 87.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 234 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chengdu zhengdu Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504601973) | [TIAN XUAN TECHNOLOGY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1624623218) |

## What reviewers say

### Seagull IM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/seagull-im/id1584062834)

This secure messaging app offers end-to-end encrypted chats, voice, and video calls. It prioritizes user privacy with features like screenshot notifications and bidirectional deletion, making communication efficient and private.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Screenshot notifications, Bidirectional message deletion, Large group chat support, Voice and video calls, Application lock

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 海鸥1个月靓号服务券 | $2.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥3个月靓号服务券 | $7.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥会员-1个月 | $9.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥6个月靓号服务券 | $14.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥12个月靓号服务券 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥会员-3个月 | $29.99 | one-time |
| 欧币 | $59.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥 | $69.99 | one-time |
| 海鸥会员-12个月 | $99.99 | one-time |
| 1298元欧币 | $199.99 | one-time |


### Magpie IM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magpie-im/id1624623095)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Seagull IM free?

Seagull IM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Magpie IM free?

Magpie IM is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Seagull IM or Magpie IM have ads?

Seagull IM shows ads; Magpie IM does not.

### Which is updated more often, Seagull IM or Magpie IM?

Seagull IM ships an update every 3 weeks, and Magpie IM every 3 weeks. Most recently, Seagull IM was updated on November 7, 2026 and Magpie IM on November 3, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*